Compartment of an assembly of structural glass plates



NOV. 15, 1966 sTElN 3,284,974

COMPARTMENT OF AN ASSEMBLY OF STRUCTURAL GLASS PLATES Filed Jan. 11.1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EDWJED IA 575/ A Tree/v0 Nov. 15, 1966E. H. STEIN 3,284,974

COMPARTMENT OF AN ASSEMBLY OF STRUCTURAL GLASS PLATES Filed Jan. 11,1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 W5 5 FIG.7 98 70 I00 72$ M BG /68 I F I69 i i F!a. no I VENTOR.

EDWARD 6f STE/1V 4 rrokMiY United States Patent 3,284,974 COMPARTMENT OFAN ASSEMBLY OF STRUCTURAL GLASS PLATES Edward H. Stein, Wexford, Pa.,assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 250,909 3Claims. (Cl. 52-204) This invention relates to the assembly of panel orslab type building materials and more particularly to the assembly ofstructural glass plates for partitions, enclosures, toilet compartments,solar screens and the like.

When panel type building materials are used in the construction ofoffice partitions, enclosures, toilet compartments and the like, it isthe usual practice to drill holes in the panels and secure the panels tometallic structural members by bolts or screws extending through thedrilled holes. This practice is expensive and has several disadvantages.Drilling holes in the panel increases the overall cost of fabricationand assembly and the bolts or screws utilized to secure the panels tothe structural members distract from the overall appearance of theenclosure. When the panels are formed of structural glass, marble orother vitreous material, the drilling of holes in the panels presentsadditional disadvantages. The holes are usually drilled near the edgeportions of the panel and weaken the panel so that the possibility ofthe panels cracking or breaking is increased. The bolts used to securethe panels, if not properly installed, can exert undue stresses on thepanel which may result in structural failure.

In the construction of toilet compartments or booths, it is highlydesirable to space the lower edge portion of the side panels above thefloor. The spacing of the panels above the floor facilitates thecleaning of the compartments. When structural glass, marble or the likeis utilized as the side pane-l, it has generally been the practice inthe past to support the lower edge of the panel in a channel member thatis secured to other vertical supports. With this construction thechannel member supports the weight of the structural glass panel and thepane serves only as a partition and does not serve as a structuralmember. It would be highly desirable to eliminate the lower channelmember and utilize the glass panel as a structural member in addition tohaving the glass panel serve as a partition or wall of the compartment.

In other types of toilet compartments, a vertical edge portion of theside panels is anchored in a vertical recess in the wall and secured tothe wall by means of plaster or other similar material. It is apparentthis type of construction requires skilled labor and is expensive.

According to the invention herein disclosed, it is proposed to providean assembly wherein the structural glass panels are supported by meansof vertical posts and, in certain instances, by wall clamps. The postsand clamps serves as compression members to secure the glass in placeand do not require the drilling of holes in the [glass for mechanicalattachment of the glass to the supporting structure. The posts supportthe glass panel by a compressive force exerted by the posts on the fiatsurfaces of the structural glass panel. This compressive force securesthe structural glass panel to the posts and does not subject the glasspanel to any undue stresses that could result in structural failure.

In booths, partitions or compartments when a vertical edge portion ofthe panel abuts an existing wall, the panel may be secured to the wall'by means of a clamping device and the other edge portion may besupported by a post. With this arrangement the glass panel serves as astructural member between the wall and the post and also serves as anenclosure panel. The improved assembly now permits the simplefabrication and erection of toilet compartments of structural glass,marble or other slab materials. Glass panels are utilized as thestructural side walls of the compartment and the posts .serve as a meansfor attachment of the door hinges and other hardware. All such hardwarecan thus be applied at the factory for economic reasons.

Briefly, the invention is directed to an assembly of panel-type buildingmaterials wherein the panels are supported by a compressive forceexerted thereon by support members. One of the support members is avertical post having two sections. The glass panel is positioned betweenthe two sections and the sections are urged toward each other. The postsections exert a compressive force of between 200 and 500 pounds persquare inch on the glass panel and support the panel therebetween. Thepost section can be positioned adjacent a vertical edge portion of thepanel or at any location between the end portions or longitudinalextremities thereof. Another of the support members is a clamping devicethat is secured to the wall, ceiling or floor and an edge portion of theglass panel is secured to the clamping device by a compressive forceexerted thereon by the clamping device.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to assemblepanels as partitions, compartments or the like without drilling holes inthe panels.

Another object of this invention is to support a panel above the floorby a compressive force exerted thereon by a support member.

A further object of this invention is to support a panel of structuralglass by positioning the glass panel between two sections of a verticalpost and urging the two sections of the post toward each other tothereby exert a compressive force on the glass panel and support theglass panel in a vertical position.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent fromthe following drawings, specification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a toilet compartment having the sidepanels supported by posts at one end and by a clamp mechanism at theother end.

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of the compartment illustrated inFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view in front elevation of the posts supporting the frontedge of the panel.

FIGURE 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 andillustrating the clamp mechanism securing the glass panel to the wall.

FIGURE 5 is a view in section taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 3 andillustrating in detail the construction of the posts, and the manner inwhich the posts compress the glass, panel therebetween.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism illustrated inFIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a support bracket that is arranged tobe suspended from the clamp mechanism and supports a lower edge portionof the glass panel.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of the panelillustrating the manner in which the support bracket is secured. to theclamp mechanism and the manner in which the support bracket supports thepanel lower edge portion.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a plurality of panels supported in avertical position by means of a horizontal clamp mechanism similar tothat illustrated in FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of curved glass panels supported by aclamp mechanism similar to the clamp mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a shelf secured to a vertical wall bymeans of the improved clamping mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES l, 2 and 3,there is illustrated a toilet compartment or booth generally designatedby the numeral which has a pair of vertical side panels 12 preferablyformed of opaque or translucent glass, marble or the like. The sidepanels 12 have a front vertical edge portion 14, a rear vertical edgeportion 16 and a lower horizontal edge portion 18. The panels havesubstantially planar surfaces 20 and 22. The panels 12 have their rearvertical edge portion 16 supported from the wall 24 by means of a pairof clamps generally designated by the numeral 26 which will be laterdescribed in detail.

The side panels 12 have their lower edge portions spaced above the floor28, as is indicated in FIGURE 4. The side panel front edge portion issupported by a vertical post generally designated by the numeral 30. Thefront edge portion 14 extends between a pair of post sections 31 and 32and the side panels 12 are supported by a compressive force exertedthereon by the post sections 31 and 32. The structure of post 30 will belater described in detail. Suitable hinge members 34 are secured to thepost 30. A door 36 of swing action is mounted on the hinge members 34 toform the toilet enclosure. A suitable latch mechanism 38 is secured toan adjacent post 30 that supports the other side panel 12. The sidepanels 12 are preferably unitary plates of structural flat glass thatare supported by the clamps 26 and the post 30.

The clamp that 26 that supports the side panel rear edge portion 16 isillustrated in detail in FIGURES 4 and 6. The clamp 26 is fabricated intwo sections generally designated by the numerals 40 and 42. The section40 has a body portion 44 and an inturned flange end portion 46. The bodyportion 44 has a pair of apertures 48 extending horizontallytherethrough and the flange portion 46 also has a pair of horizontalapertures 49 extending horizontally therethrough. The other section 42has a body portion 50 and. an inwardly extending intermediate projection52 which has a pair of horizontal apertures 54. The apertures 54 arealigned with the apertures 48 in body portion 44. The sections 40 and 42each has a jaw portion with a glass clamping surface 56 and 58.

The clamp 26 is assembled and supports the glass panel 12 in thefollowing manner. The section 40 is first secured to the wall 24 bymeans of screws 60 extending through apertures 49 into the wall 24. Thesections 40 are thus rigidly secured to the wall 24. The section 42 issecured to section 40 by means of screws 62 extending through alignedapertures 48 and 54. The glass panel 12 is positioned with the rear edge16 abutting the inturned projection 52 and suitable gasket material 64may be positioned between the glass panel planar surfaces 20, 22 and therespective glass clamping surfaces 56 and 58. By means of screws 62 thesection-s 40 and 42 are urged toward each other so that the clampingsurfaces 56 and 58 exert a compressive clamping force on the panel 12and thereby support the panel 12 in a suspended position from the rearwall 24 with the lower edge 18 spaced above the floor 28. The dimensionsof the clamping device 26 are such that glass of various widths can besupported between the glass clamping surfaces 56 and 58. A compressiveforce of between 200 and 500 pounds per square inch is believed to besuificient to suitably support the panel 12.

Where desired, a support bracket illustrated in FIG- URES 7 and 8 andgenerally designated by the numeral 66 can be utilized to support thelower rear edge of the glass panel 12. The support bracket 66 has avertical body portion 68 with a rearwardly extending top flange 70terminating in a downturned end portion 72. The body portion 68 has aforwardly extending support portion 74 adjacent the other edge with anupper planar surface 76. The body portion 68 adjacent the support 74 hasa rearwardly extending spacer 78 that maintains the support bracket 66in spaced relation with the wall 24. The support bracket 66 ispositioned with the flange 70 in overlying relation with the top surfaceof clamp inwardly extending projection 52 and the downturned end portion72 positioned between the clamp inturned flange 46 and the projection52. The panel rear edge portion 16 abuts the front surface of supportbracket body portion 68 and the lower edge portion 18 abuts the supportportion 74. The spacer 78 abuts the Wall 24 and spaces the support 66away from the wall 24. With this arrangement the lower edge of the glasspanel 12 is supported by the support bracket 66 in addition to thecompressive clamping force exerted on the panel by the clamp mechanism26. The support bracket 66 is so constructed that its lateral dimensiondoes not interfere with the operation of the clamp 26 on which it iscarried.

The front edge of panel 12 is supported by the post 30 illustrated insection in FIGURE 5. The post 30 has two sections 31 and 32 which aresimilar in construction in that each is formed of a U-shaped channelgenerally designated :by the numeral 80 that has a web portion 82 and apair of parallel flanges 84 and 86. The web portions 82 have a glassengaging outer surface 88 and aligned apertures 90 spaced above andbelow the panel 12. Bolts 92 extend through the apertures 90 and througha cylindrical bushing 94 positioned between the post web portions 82. Anut 95 secures the channels 80 to each other. The panel 12 extendsbetween the post web portions 82 with the planar surface 20 injuxtaposition with the glass engaging surface 88 of post section 31 andthe planar surface 22 in juxtaposition with the glass engaging surface88 of post section 32. A suitable gasket material 96 may be positionedbetween the respective planar surfaces 20 and 22 of panel 12 and thepost glass engaging surfaces 88.

After the panel is properly positioned between the post sections 31 and32, the nuts are tightened to urge the glass engaging surfaces 88 ofrespective sections 31 and 32 toward each other to exert a compressiveforce on the glass panel. A compressive force of between 200 and 500pounds per square inch is believed to be suificient .to suitably supportthe panel 12. With this arrangement the front edge portion of panel 12is supported by the post 30. It should be noted that the apertures inthe Web 82 are preferably both above and below the glass panel 12 tothereby exert a uniform compressive force on the entire glass panel. Ifdesired for certain installations, only a single pair of apertures needbe utilized to exert the requisite compressive forces on the panels torigidly support the panels in a vertical position.

The post sections 31 and 32,, as shown in FIGURE 3, are secured to thefloor 28 and the ceiling in any suitable known manner, such as by anchoror blocks 27 and screws 29. The post sections 31 and 32 may be securedonly to the floor or suspended only from the ceiling. An enclosure plate98 having a pair of inwardly extending projections 100 encloses the openend of channels 80 and abuts the end portions of flanges 84 and 86. Withthis arrangement the post sections 31 and 32 have a generallyrectangular configuration. Similarly, other cross-section shapes may beobtained. A suitable elongated insert 102 is positioned in the spacebetween the web portions of post sections 31 and 32 above and below theglass panel 12 to give the post 30 a unitary rectangular appearance withthe front edge 14 of panel 12 protruding therefrom.

In FIGURE 9 a plurality of glass panels 104 are positioned in spacedrelation to each other and are supported along opposite edges byclamping devices 106 which are similar in construction to the clampillustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6. The panels 104 may serve as solarscreens or as partitions in offices, banks, commercial buildings or thelike. The positioning and assembly of the panels 104 may now beaccomplished without drilling holes in the glass panel and the panelsare adjustable in that they may be readily moved to a desired permanentposition and locked in this position by the compressive action of theclamping devices 106.

In FIGURE there are illustrated a plurality of curved glass panels 108that are supported in a curved configuration by means of clampingdevices 110 similar to the clamps illustrated in FIGURE 6. It will beappreciated in the event the curvature of the glass panels is such that,for proper support, the clamping devices should be curved, a curvedclamping device may be utilized. Straight, flat panels may be supportedby a similar means.

FIGURE 11 illustrates a glass sheet 112 secured to a wall 114 as a shelfby a plurality of clamping devices 116 which are similar to the clampsillustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 6.

Although the post 30 is described as supporting one end portion of aglass panel, it should be understood the post can :be utilized to eithersupport a series of glass panels arranged linearly with a postsupporting the edges of two panels, or the panels may be supportedintermediate their vertical edges or longitudinal extremities by asingle post.

It will thus be apparent from the foregoing description that theinvention herein described provides a structural assembly for glasspanels or plates that permits the panels to be completely shopfabricated and shipped disassembled for easy and economical assembly inthe field. The panels require no field fabrication and the supportcomponents are adjustable to allow for greater latitude in dimensionalplacement of the panels. The panels may be freely adjusted to thedesired permanent position before being locked in the permanent positionby the compressive action of the post, clamps and the like. Thisinvention can be utilized for the attachment of structural glass platesor other slab materials in exterior applications. Furniture, cabinets,or similar structures can be fabricated and assembled utilizing theprinciples herein set forth.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principal andpreferred mode of operation of the invention have been explained.However, it should be understood that within the scope of the appendedclaims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyillustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a partition assembly extending outwardly from a vertical wall, thecombination comprising,

a vertically disposed panel of a generally rectangular configurationhaving a pair of substantially planar surfaces and front and rear edgeportions,

a vertical panel supporting post extending across said panel adjacentsaid front edge portion,

said panel supporting post comprising a pair of elongated U-shapedchannel members, each having a web portion and a pair of spaced flanges,

said web portions being in opposed, spaced relation to each other and injuxtaposition with opposed planar surfaces of said panel for clampingengagement therewith,

fastening means interconnecting said elongated channe m mbe s a d o atedOuts de aid panel t rge said elongated channel members toward each otherand clamp the panel therebetween,

enclosure means mounted on each of said channel members and concealingthe space between each of said pair of spaced flanges,

fastening means securing said panel supporting post in a fixed verticalposition,

a clamp secured to said vertical wall and extending outwardly therefromand having a first section and a second section,

said clamp first section and said clamp second section being in opposed,spaced relation to each other,

said clamp first section having a flanged end portion secured byfastening means to said vertical wall with said first section extendingoutwardly therefrom,

said clamp second section having a portion intermediate its extremitiesextending inwardly toward said first section,

and means connecting said clamp first section and said intermediateportion of said clamp second section and located outside said panel tourge said sections toward each other and clampingly engage and supportsaid rear end portion of said panel therebetween.

2. A partition assembly as set forth in claim 1, which further includes,

a support bracket having a vertical body portion, a rearwardly extendingtop flange terminating in a downturned end portion and a forwardlyextending bottom flange with a top planar surface,

said support bracket top flange being positioned in overlying relationwith the top surface of said intermediate portion of said clamp secondsection, and

said support bracket bottom flange having its top planar surface inabutting relation with an adjacent lower edge portion of said panel.

3. A partition assembly as set forth in claim 1, which further includes,

a door hingedly connected to the vertical panel supporting post of saidfirst-mentioned partition assembly, and a second partition assembly ofidentical construction to said first-mentioned partition assembly and inopposed parallel relation thereto, said door extending laterally betweensaid first-mentioned partition assembly and said second partitionassembly to form an enclosure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,097,934 5/1914Price 52--702 1,637,145 7/1927 Hart et al 52-239 1,772,286 8/1930MacDonald 52-464 2,079,635 5/ 1937 Sharp 52-241 2,160,225 5/ 1939 Newman52--293 2,287,079 6/ 1942 Anderson 5.2239 3,028,938 4/1962 Schorr 52-4643,053,353 9/1962 Miller 52-477 3,126,986 3/1964 Madl 52-210 FRANK L.ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Examiner.

J. L. RIDGILL, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A PARTITION ASSEMBLY EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM A VERTICAL WALL, THECOMBINATION COMPRISING, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED PANEL OF A GENERALLYRECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR SURFACESAND FRONT AND REAR EDGE PORTIONS, A VERTICAL PANEL SUPPORTING POSTEXTENDING ACROSS SAID PANEL ADJACENT SAID FRONT EDGE PORTION, SAID PANELSUPPORTING POST COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBERS,EACH HAVING A WEB PORTION AND A PAIR OF SPACED FLANGES, SAID WEBPORTIONS BEING IN OPPOSED, SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND INJUXTAPOSITION WITH OPPOSED PLANAR SURFACES OF SAID PANEL FOR CLAMPINGENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, FASTENING MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID ELONGATEDCHANNEL MEMBERS AND LOCATED OUTSIDE SAID PANEL TO URGE SAID ELONGATEDCHANNEL MEMBERS TOWARD EACH OTHER AND CLAMP THE PANEL THEREBETWEEN,ENCLOSURE MEANS MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS AND CONCEALINGTHE SPACE BETWEEN EACH OF SAID PAIR OF SPACED FLANGES, FASTENING MEANSSECURING SAID PANEL SUPPORTING POST IN A FIXED VERTICAL POSITION, ACLAMP SECURED TO SAID VERTICAL WALL AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROMAND HAVING A FIRST SECTION AND A SECOND SECTION, SAID CLAMP FIRSTSECTION AND SAID CLAMP SECOND SECTION BEING IN OPPOSED, SPACED RELATIONTO EACH OTHER, SAID CLAMP FIRST SECTION HAVING A FLANGED END PORTIONSECURED BY FASTENING MEANS TO SAID VERTICAL WALL WITH SAID FIRST SECTIONEXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID CLAMP SECOND SECTION HAVING APORTION INTERMEDIATE ITS EXTREMITIES EXTENDING INWARDLY TOWARD SAIDFIRST SECTION, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID CLAMP FIRST SECTION AND SAIDINTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID CLAMP SECOND SECTION AND LOCATED OUTSIDESAID PANEL TO URGE SAID SECTIONS TOWARD EACH OTHER AND CLAMPINGLY ENGAGEAND SUPPORT SAID REAR END PORTION OF SAID PANEL THEREBETWEEN.